Innovation

💰 Damien Patureaux, CEO of Lyzi, reported that between June 2022 and the present, they have integrated over 1500 merchants accepting crypto payments across France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the UK. Lyzi's partnerships could potentially cover 400,000 sales points. The company accepts over 500 cryptocurrencies and wallets, with most payments made in BTC, ETH, and USDC. Lyzi aims for significant transaction volume growth and to become an international solution by 2025, with aspirations to lead in physical point-of-sale payment acceptance in Europe and expand to the Middle East and the USA.

🔒 The MOTO (Mail Order/Telephone Order) payment system for hotels is likely to face stricter conditions due to non-compliance with the DSP2 (European Directive on Payment Services), which requires strong authentication for remote payments. The tourism sector has a high global fraud attempt rate at 36%. Lyra, a payment service provider, offers hotels a secure and simple alternative for remote payment collection via a link sent through email, SMS, or WhatsApp.

✈ Vueling's Digital Talent Flight saw 180 developers proposing an in-flight instant translation solution. 27 groups presented solutions, with the offline operational La Joconde emerging as the winner. IAG unveiled IAGi Ventures, a €200 million innovation fund, following Vueling's event. La Joconde utilized lightweight linguistic models including Ollama, Mistral, and Piper. Vueling's digital strategy includes AI, with exploration in quantum computing precision and virtual reality for crew training. By 2025, Vueling aims to develop autonomous agents for customer interactions and internal operations, prioritizing security and starting with internal deployment. Only 7% of airlines have invested in startups, Vueling collaborates with startups in quantum computing and robotics through IAG's Hangar 51, now IAGi Accelerator.

🎯 International Airlines Group (IAG) unveils IAGi Ventures, a €200 million innovation fund, targeting startups in customer experience, ground operations, and sustainability. Launching this five-year initiative, IAG has already invested in technology firms like Assaia, i6, and LanzaJet since 2017. The Hangar51 accelerator program is renamed IAGi Accelerator to test and scale innovative solutions in the airline industry.

🏨 Inno'Tourism, France's leading show on hotel innovation, features Patrick d’Altelis, an AI hospitality pioneer. Livie's AI chatbot offers tailored customer interactions, boosting direct bookings and understanding guest needs. Upcoming features include Google Maps integration and predictive AI to enhance guest experiences. Aimed at forward-thinking hoteliers, the episode provides insights into Livie's roadmap and the future of independent hotels. Contact Patrick for a demo at 06 08 33 16 93 or [email protected].

📝 Positive customer reviews are now a crucial lever for brand trust, image enhancement, and online visibility. Face-to-face requests can see 33% of consumers leaving a review, while email is the most effective channel with a 34% response rate. SMS boasts high open rates, and QR codes can be strategically placed in business locations for easy access. Collecting feedback immediately after a positive experience, known as hot collection, maximizes customer satisfaction. Guest Suite, since February 2023, uses AI (ChatGPT) to automate and personalize responses to customer reviews, simplifying their management and enhancing brand reputation. 92% of French consumers consult customer reviews during their purchasing process, making them a decisive factor in consumer choices.

💎 Marc Larminaux joined Lalique as a designer after completing his studies, including a Master in Industrial Design from Saint Martins College of Art and Design, London, and a BTS in ceramic and glass design from Olivier de Serres School of Applied Arts, Paris. Twenty-two years later, he leads the creation department, working closely with six designers and emphasizing the fine decor that embodies Lalique's signature contrast between satin and repolished finishes, merging cutting-edge industrial technologies with artisanal craftsmanship passed down through generations.

💰 Hands In, a UK startup, secured over €1.1 million in funding led by CONCRYT with participation from business angel Ryta Zasiekina. The company was founded in 2022 and previously raised nearly €600,000 in pre-seed funding in 2023. Hands In's split payment solution contributed to generating $6 million in additional revenue for Air Europa. The fresh capital will be used to expand partnerships, develop product offerings, and support growth in 2025.

🌍 On March 5, 2025, Trip.com and WTTC unveiled the "Technology Game Changers: Future Trends in Travel & Tourism" report at ITB Berlin, identifying 4 innovations that could transform travel, including quantum computing and nuclear fusion. The report, evaluating 16 technologies, predicts the resurgence of supersonic aviation within 4 years and foresees quantum computing optimizing air traffic in real-time. By the end of the decade, AI could surpass mere automation, with a survey of 8,000 travelers showing 97% interest in a "super app" for travel. The study highlights the first 100% sustainable fuel transatlantic flight by Virgin Atlantic and notes the Bahamas' aim to attract space launch spectators in the budding space tourism sector.

📱 HiJiffy, an AI-based hotel communication solutions leader, announced a new partnership with Expedia Group, enabling hoteliers to manage traveler messages from Expedia directly via the HiJiffy Console. This integration streamlines conversation management, saving time and resources while enhancing customer experience. Features include full conversation history access, individual message search, file attachments, and real-time alerts for messages before, during, and after stays. This centralization improves efficiency and responsiveness, offering a smoother, personalized experience for travelers.